Chinese officials urged to avoid luxurious festival revels

BEIJING - The top disciplinary arm of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Tuesday released a circular urging officials to refrain from luxurious banquets and gift-giving as festivals near.

"During festivals, sending mooncakes and gifts paid for with public funds is strictly prohibited; luxurious feasts, travel, fitness programs and high-end entertainments that are covered by public funds are strictly prohibited," said the circular.

It was jointly released by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the guidance team of the "mass line" campaign.

The one-year campaign was launched in June by China's leaders to boost ties between CPC officials and members and the people, while cleaning up undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance.

The circular comes ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional mooncake-eating occasion that falls on Sept 19 this year, and the National Day Holiday in early October, when celebratory gift-sending and feasts are norms.

"Superior departments and officials should seize on the trend of these luxurious celebrations and be courageous enough to spot and rectify decadent behavior in a timely manner while setting an example themselves," said the circular.

According to this document, handing out unnecessary bonuses and materials in the name of festivals is also banned.

The circular vows to punish every violation case once spotted.